Source-checked guide · August 2026
Audiobookshelf clients compared from primary sources
There is no single best Audiobookshelf client, and Audiobookshelf has no official Mac app. On a Mac you use the official web client in a browser or a third-party client. For Apple-device playback, compare SoundLeaf, Still, and AudioBooth by the devices and offline controls their owners document. Choose PoRaBar when a native Mac menu-bar player for radio, podcasts, YouTube livestreams, and Audiobookshelf matters more than source-backed offline or dedicated-device features.
Audiobookshelf clients compared, with the Mac status of each
Six first-party and Apple-platform playback choices, compared only on facts documented by Audiobookshelf, product owners, App Store listings, or maintainer repositories.
| Client | Relationship | Platforms | Pricing model | What the sources establish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audiobookshelf web client | First-party | Web, PWA | Unknown | The official server repository documents browser streaming and per-user progress sync; Audiobookshelf directs server administration to the web client. Source 1Source 2 |
| Audiobookshelf mobile app | First-party; early-beta iOS app | iOS via TestFlight, Android beta | Unknown | Official documentation establishes offline listening and no server administration. The app repository said the iOS TestFlight was full on the verification date. Source 1Source 2Source 3 |
| SoundLeaf | Third-party community client | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, CarPlay, macOS unresolved | Free base app; SoundLeaf Pro one-time USD 9.99; optional yearly Supporter tier | Product and App Store sources document streaming, sync, a sleep timer, and Pro offline downloads; version 2.1 was dated 2026-08-13. Its community entry labels macOS while the App Store says not verified for macOS, so macOS remains unresolved. Source 1Source 2Source 3Source 4 |
| Still: for Audiobookshelf | Third-party community client | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, CarPlay, macOS unresolved | Free with in-app purchases; exact prices Unknown | The App Store documents streaming, downloads, progress sync, a sleep timer, multiple servers, and version 1.4 dated 2026-07-30. macOS remains unresolved because the community and App Store statements conflict. Source 1Source 2Source 3 |
| AudioBooth | Third-party community client | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, CarPlay | Free with in-app purchases; exact prices Unknown | The App Store documents direct Audiobookshelf integration, downloads, progress sync, a sleep timer, and version 1.11 dated 2026-07-21; the maintainer repository documents current development. Source 1Source 2Source 3 |
| PoRaBar | Third-party; not listed in Audiobookshelf's community directory | macOS 13+, iOS 17+ | 60-day free trial; one-time USD 2.99 purchase | PoRaBar's product sources document Mac menu-bar playback for Audiobookshelf, radio, podcasts, and YouTube livestreams. Audiobookshelf books stream and are not available as offline downloads. Source 1Source 2Source 3Source 4 |
How this comparison is sourced
The research pass is dated 17 August 2026 and uses product-owned sites, App Store listings, official documentation, and maintainer repositories. Audiobookshelf’s community listing is a discovery aid, not an endorsement. Audiobookshelf says third-party projects are not maintained, tested, security-reviewed, or supported by Audiobookshelf; each maintainer is responsible for its own entry.
“Unknown” means the reviewed primary sources did not establish the fact. It does not mean a feature or price is absent. SoundLeaf and Still are examples: the community directory labels them for macOS, while their current App Store compatibility statements say “Not verified for macOS,” so this comparison leaves macOS unresolved for both.
Which one should you choose?
- Choose the Audiobookshelf web client when you want the supported server-administration interface or browser playback without another client.
- Consider the official mobile app when first-party offline listening matters and you can access the relevant beta. At the verification date, its repository said the iOS TestFlight was full.
- Compare SoundLeaf when its documented Apple Watch, CarPlay, sync, sleep-timer, and optional offline features fit your devices. Treat Mac availability as unresolved.
- Compare Still when its documented downloads, progress sync, sleep timer, and multiple-server handling fit your setup. Its exact in-app prices and Mac availability remain unresolved here.
- Compare AudioBooth when you want a client whose current App Store listing covers Mac and several other Apple platforms, along with downloads and a sleep timer.
- Consider PoRaBar when you want Audiobookshelf inside a native Mac menu-bar player that also handles radio, podcasts, and YouTube livestreams. It searches your whole library by title, author, narrator or series, has an Authors page, and on iPhone shows your library in CarPlay. Read how PoRaBar handles Audiobookshelf on Mac before choosing it.
Where PoRaBar is not the best fit
PoRaBar is not the best fit when you need offline Audiobookshelf listening: its audiobooks stream from your server. It is also not the source-backed choice for Audiobookshelf-specific sleep controls, Apple Watch, iPad, or server administration. SoundLeaf, Still, and AudioBooth document several of those dedicated-client capabilities, while the official web client is Audiobookshelf’s server-administration choice.
If the web client already meets your needs, use it in a browser. If PoRaBar’s menu-bar trade still fits, follow the Audiobookshelf connection guide and verify it against your own server during the trial.
Audiobookshelf clients for Mac: common questions
Is there an official Audiobookshelf app for Mac?
No. Audiobookshelf's own clients are the web client and a mobile app for Android and iOS, which its documentation calls a beta. On a Mac that leaves the browser or a third-party client. Among the clients compared here, AudioBooth lists Mac on its App Store page, PoRaBar is a native macOS menu-bar app, and the Mac status of SoundLeaf and Still is unresolved because the App Store lists both as not verified for macOS.
What is the best Audiobookshelf client for Mac?
It depends on what you need. Use the web client for server administration. Compare AudioBooth if you want an audiobook-focused app whose App Store page lists Mac. Choose PoRaBar if you want a menu-bar player that also plays radio, podcasts and YouTube livestreams, and you can live without offline Audiobookshelf listening.
Is there Audiobookshelf CarPlay support?
That depends on the client, because Audiobookshelf itself is the server. The reviewed sources document CarPlay for SoundLeaf, Still and AudioBooth, and PoRaBar's iPhone app has a CarPlay audio screen with an Audiobookshelf page. For the official mobile app the reviewed sources did not establish it.
Where do I find my Audiobookshelf API token?
Sign in to the Audiobookshelf web client as an admin, open the users page in the settings and click your account. The token is on that page. PoRaBar accepts either that token or your Audiobookshelf username and password, and keeps the token in the macOS Keychain. The connection guide shows both options.
Which Audiobookshelf clients can download books for offline listening?
According to the reviewed sources, the official mobile app documents offline listening, SoundLeaf lists downloads in its Pro tier, and Still and AudioBooth document downloads. PoRaBar does not: its audiobooks stream from your server, although podcast episodes can be downloaded.
Try PoRaBar only if its trade fits
PoRaBar has a 60-day free trial, followed by one USD 2.99 purchase. Test it with your own server before deciding.